There was no pause when Calgary Flames tough guy Kevin Westgarth was asked if he could recall his first NHL shift and who he shared the moment with,

It was Jan. 20, 2009 — the 6-foot-4, 234-lb. winger was paired with fellow Los Angeles Kings tough-guy Raitis Ivanans and centred by Derek Armstrong in a 5-2 road victory against the Minnesota Wild.

“I was thinking about fighting Derek Boogaard, but Raitis got to him first,” Westgarth said with a laugh after Thursday’s morning skate at the Saddledome. “It was a lot of fun. You’re almost in a bit of a fog, which is probably a good thing. If you just relax and let your body do what it does, it’s a lot easier.”

Westgarth was on the other side of the equation Thursday. While facing his former Kings team that he logged 90 NHL games with and earned a Stanley Cup ring with in 2011-12, Westgarth shared in Markus Granlund’s first big-league experience. Both Westgarth and Granlund played with Paul Byron on the Flames fourth line.

“He’s a hell of a player,” Westgarth said of Granlund. “It’s always exciting to see guys get their shot and get their toes wet. It’s everybody’s dream for a long long time to play in the NHL.”

Granlund represents a new wave of Flames prospects for an organization that, much like the Kings when Westgarth was signed his deal, was a team in transition.

“There’s a lot of parallels,” Westgarth said. “When I first signed (with the Kings), it was pretty tough going. They didn’t blow it up, but it was very much a rebuilding team. It’s incredible to see what they’ve done in that five years. It was an incredible thing to be a part of. We’re looking to bring the same here.”

Around the boards

Flames C Sean Monahan might not have needed it, but he got a little motivation from his former Ottawa 67’s roommate before breaking into the NHL. When Kings C Tyler Toffoli made the jump from junior to The Show in March of 2012, Monahan was watching closely. “I got to see how good of a player he was and how much skill and the little things he does to be that good,” Monahan said after Thursday’s morning skate. “Once I saw him make that jump and start playing some playoff games in the NHL, it made me realize how close I could be and made me really want to get there.” While the Kings and Flames have played twice already this year, Thursday’s game was the first time the pair were both in the lineup at the same time … Around 50 Canadian Olympians received a welcome home by Saddledome fans before Thursday’s tilt. After speedskating duo Gilmore Junio and Denny Morrison received a standing ovation during a ceremonial puck-drop, dozens of athletes — including gold medal winning bobsleigh star Kaillie Humphries — were brought onto the ice for the singing of the national anthem … Flames’ acting GM Brian Burke, while appearing on TSN during the first intermission, said there was “not a chance” he would be the team’s general manager at the start of next season. When host James Duthie said no one believes him, Burke replied “save the tape.”

Off the glass

Injured Flames LW Curtis Glencross and RW Brian McGrattan participated in a full practice with the Flames on Thursday morning. Both were in non-contact jerseys for the skate, and neither suited up for the game against the Kings. But it’s a sign the pair are close to returning to action … Kings D Robyn Regehr made his first appearance at the Dome since he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in June 2011. Since that trade, and the one to Southern California in April 2013, Regehr has logged 195 games. He was welcomed back with a video tribute during the first TV timeout on the jumbotron

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Calgary Flames tough guy shares memories

There was no pause when Calgary Flames tough guy Kevin Westgarth was asked if he could recall his first NHL shift and who he shared the moment with,

It was Jan. 20, 2009 — the 6-foot-4, 234-lb. winger was paired with fellow Los Angeles Kings tough-guy Raitis Ivanans and centred by Derek Armstrong in a 5-2 road victory against the Minnesota Wild.

“I was thinking about fighting Derek Boogaard, but Raitis got to him first,” Westgarth said with a laugh after Thursday’s morning skate at the Saddledome. “It was a lot of fun. You’re almost in a bit of a fog, which is probably a good thing. If you just relax and let your body do what it does, it’s a lot easier.”

Westgarth was on the other side of the equation Thursday. While facing his former Kings team that he logged 90 NHL games with and earned a Stanley Cup ring with in 2011-12, Westgarth shared in Markus Granlund’s first big-league experience. Both Westgarth and Granlund played with Paul Byron on the Flame